We will be talking about the variety of fascinating experiences of travelling in Myanmar. During the class we will explore stories from in-country experiences intermixed with in-depth reading of life, history and culture in Burma/Myanmar.

Japan is a top tourist destination, attracting increasing numbers of visitors. It’s a mix of the new and old: bullet trains, geisha, centuries old tea-houses, cutting-edge technology…

But what about nation-shaping events down the millennia? These caused modern-day Japan to be the dichotomy it now is! Learn about Mongol invasions, forced openings and military threats from all angles.

“Welsh is the same as English, isn’t it?” Absolutely not! “But, Wales is in England, right?” False. Wales is a country within a country, and has its own flag, language, customs and peculiarities!

An image search online will show you pictures of beautiful mountains, sheep and dragons. And to some extent this is true. But there is far more to Wales, not least of which is its unique language. Learn the basics of this language, which has existed since the 7th Century! And at the same time, we’ll learn what’s behind the glossy photos and obsession with dragons.

Movies and TV shows are full of knights that fight like turtles with clunky heavy swords, and nimble characters that run rings around them with their rapiers. But what was sword fighting really like?

Have a go at old-fashioned sword fighting and learn about the different types of martial arts in Europe, and the different contexts they were used in: from judicial duels to sporting tournaments and back-alley brawls. Find out about sword weights and types and you might even learn a technique or two!

Tapas are appetisers, traditionally served with a glass of wine or beer all around Spain. In fact, “tapa” means cover in Spanish as the slices of bread were used to cover the drink so no flies would fall into it…

From some spicy potatoes, cheese or jamon to more elaborate mini-dishes, tapas have evolved from a simple snack before lunchtime to a fully-fledged cuisine of its own, including its own verb “ir de tapeo” which means to skip the main meal and enjoy bar-hopping and tapa-hoping around town.

We’ll learn the basics of the different spices and where they come from. Plus we’ll discuss a little bit about some of their benefits, and how the British tea and scones collided with Indian chai and samosas!

More importantly, we’ll discover how to brew delicious chai the authentic way. And of course, we’ll taste a few brews as well.

Piñatas are mini vibrant and colourful decorations that you get to hit, smash and take all your frustrations out on! The best part – once it’s broken open, you get rewarded with some sugary goodness. Sounds great, right?

Most commonly identified as a Mexican traditional party activity, piñatas are a way to make any event a big hit. It’s also super fun to make piñatas, and that’s what we’re going to do!